Mining machine



June 21 1927.

F. w. VODOZ "/MINING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 24-. 1924 j- J-une 21 1927 F. w. VODOZ MINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24. 1924 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 g 19w? or Fr e0 [1/ poclp csezarl 22077 56515 YE/"521? Enable!" Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,632,8I0 PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK w. vonoz, or winivln'r' rn, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR fro eoopMA NUNAC TUBING COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLr QIs, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

MINING MACHINE.

Application'filed December 24, 1924. Serial No. 757,897;

This invention relates to improvements in mining machines and more particularly to mining machines of the Shortwall or continuous cutter type.

Machines of the class specified usually comprise an elongated frame carrying power devices thereon, and a cutter bar extending rigidly from one end of the frame with its axis extending longitudinally of the'axis of the main frame. The entire machine is usually propelled bodily along the mine floor by suitable devices such as draft ropes arranged to control the angular position of the machinerelative to the 'working'face.

One of the mostextensively used forms of machines of this class is of the cutter chain type, in which the chain is of the endless-type extending around the cutter bar and thence around a-chaindriving sprocket adjacent the rear end of the'm'achine. The rear end and the front end of the machine frame'on opposite sidesbfthe cutter chain are open so as to forma'passag'eway for the cuttings which are "brought rearwardly by the cutter chain during its cutting operation,'thegreater amount of the cuttings being discharged through the'opening at the rear end of the machine. In certain-forms of machines of this class, openings are also provided at the retreating side of the machine. frame so as to facilitate discharg'e'of cuttings which'might not escape at the rear end of the machine. It has been demonstrated that the proper removal and 'discharge of cuttings is of considerable importance in the most eflicient operation of mining machines of this class, since thekerf which is practically cleared of the cuttings offers the least resistance when the coal is subsequently shot down, ordislodged. Here- 'tofo're, in theoperation of machines of this class, a considerable portion of the cuttings are not properly ejected at the rear end of the machine but-are'carried back again by thecutter cliainat the recedingor following side ofthe machine so 'as to be finally left 'in the kerf.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved mining machine of the class above described in which the cuttings passageway at the rear end of the machine is shaped so as to most readily discharge the maximum amount of cuttings in a rear'wardly direction; ear-rising the least interference with the operation of the machine. I

Detailsv of my invention may be best understood from the following drawing's,'in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a typicalkerf cutting machine constructed in accordance with my invention; and

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line'2-2 of Figure 1.

In the embodiment of my inventionillustrated herewith, the kerf cutting machine comprises a main frame 10 resting on'an underframe 11 and having. a cutter bar 12 projecting forwardly from the underfranie.

The mining machine may be of an'ysuitable form, details of which need not beherein described excepting to point out a chain driving sprocket 15 mounted on a shaft 16' depending from the main frame IO ata'point adjacent the rear end thereof. The chain driving sprocket 15 has the usual driving connection with the motor carried on the 'main framelO, as for instance in themotor casing 14. The chain driving. SPIOCkGtJ IS substantially in horizontal alignment with thecutter arm'so as to form a drivingconnection. for the cutter chain'comprising chain straps 20 and cutter blocks 21 with. cutter bits 22 thereon. In the form shown'the cutter chain. is arranged to move in a counterclockwise direction as seen. in Figure; 2.

The underframe 11 comprises a bottom plate or shoe'25 whichis adapte'dtorestdi- 'rectly upon and slide along the IIliI'16 fl'OOI during the cutting operation, and'side walls 26 and 27 forming a supporting"connection between the lateral mar ins of the bottom plate 25 and the main raine 10 above the cutter arm 12. The side walls 26 and 27 are disposed outwardly of respectivestretches of the cutter chain on opposite sides of the cutter arm so as to provide passageways on either side and especially on the side on which the cuttings are brought 'rearwa'rdly by the chain.

Referring now more particularly to the underframe CO11StIllCtl011'"Wl 1lCl1 constitutes the subject matter of my invention, it will be seenin' Figure2 that I form the side wall 26 so as to curve inwardly and rearwardly from a point substantially opposite the drive 'sprocketie a paint/substantiall the machine.

longitudinal axis of thc macl'iine or inter mediate the vertical. planes of the stretches of the cutter chain. opposite wall 27 terminates at a point substantially forward of the axis of the cutter chain sprocket, thus forming with the rear terminus of the wall 26 a diagonally disposed passageway opening facing outwardlyof the following side and rearwardly of the The margin 30 of the bottom plate 25 extends from the rear termlnus of the wall 27 at an angle rearwapdly toa point substantially at the termination of the I opposite wall 26 on the longitudinal axis machine, as is somet'imes desirable in handling machines of this type. a

The operation of the machine is perhaps already understood from the above decription. When the machine is working in the coal the cutter chain is driven in a counterclockwise direction. As viewed inFi 'ure 2 the cuttings are brought rearwardly fi'om the kerf into the passageway formed between the cutter frame and the side wall 26. Some of the cuttings are of course deposited upon the base plate and tend to fill this passageway but the continued movement of the cutter chain is sufficient to keep this passageway fairly clearand propel the major portion of the cuttings rearwardly until they reach the drivingsprocket about which thcchain is driven to change its course of movement. At this point the cuttings have a tendency tobc thrown outwardly and tan gentially of the cutter chain, thereby clearing themselves from the chain as it passes around the driving sprocket. As will be seen in FigureQ the wall 27 curves rearwardly to form a deflector directing the cuttings toward the following side of the machine, while the opening along the mar gin 30 of the bottom plate 25 and extending between the side plates 26 and 27 is sufficient to permit substantially all of the cuttings to escape from the machine on the following side and rearwardly of the axis of the cutter chain sprocket. i i a Y Although my invention is adapted for use with cutter chains of the ordinary construction it is particularly desirable in cases Where the cutter chain is provided with special devices for clearing the cuttings from the kerf and propelling them rearwardly. With such propelling devices movable at the relatively high speed of the chain,

the cuttings are sometimes thrown rear wardly with conslderable force and in such The rear end of the path such as heretofore formed when the discharge wasmade from an opening with its lower margin formed at substantially right angles to the path of movement of the machine as it progressed along the working face.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to this particular construction, excepting as specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: j 1. In a mining machine having a frame, a cutter arm projectingfor'wardly from the front end of said frame, a cutter chain driving sprocket adjacent the rear end of the frame, a cutter chain passing about said arm and sprocket, and cuttings passage formingframe members connected with said frame and disposed outwardly of respective stretches of said chain and extending there along, the frame member on the advancing side of the machine extending rearwardly farther than that on the following side and extending atthe rear of said sprocket parl (in tially about the same to and terminating at a point between the vertical planes of said stretches of the chain. i i

2. A mining machine having a frame, a cutter arm projecting forwardly from the front end of said frame, a cutter chain driving sprocket adjacent the rear end of the frame, a cutter chain passing about said arm and sprocket, and cuttings passage forming frame members connected with said frame and disposed outwardly of respective stretches of sa1d chain and extending rearwardly from the front'end of the frame, the frame .member on the advancing side of the machine extending rearwardly of the sprocket and partially about the same to and terminating at the rear end of the machine at a point intermediate the vertical planes of said stretches of the chain, and the frame member on the following side of the machine terminating rearwardly adjacent said sprocket, the rear termini of said frame members forming a diagonally disposed passageway opening facing outwardly of the following side and rearwardly of the machine.

3. In a mining machine having a frame, a cutter arm projecting forwardly from the rront end of said frame, a cutter chain driving sprocket adjacent the rear end of the frame, a cutter chain passing about said arm and sprocket, cuttings passage forming frame members connected with said frame members connected with said frame and disposed outwardly of respective stretches of said chain and extending therealon the frame member on the advancing side of the machine extending rearwardly farther than that on the following side and extending at the rear of said sprocket partially about the same to and terminating at the rear of-the machine intermediate the vertical planes of 6 said stretches of the chain, and a bracket arranged for use with a jack, carried at the rear end of the machine at the rear terminus of said longer frame member.

4. In a mining machine having a frame, a cutter arm projecting forwardly from the front end of said frame, a cutter chain driving sprocket adjacent the rear end of the frame, a cutter chain passing about said arm and sprocket, cuttings passage forming frame members connected with said frame and disposed outwardly of respective stretches of said chain and extending therealong rearwardly from the front end of the machine, the frame member on the advancing side. of the machine extending rearwardly of the sprocket and partially about the same to and terminating at the rear end of the machine at a point intermediate the ver-c tical planes of said stretches of the chain, the frame member on the following side of the machine terminating rearwardly adjacent the sprocket, the rear termini of said frame members forming a diagonally disposed passageway opening facing outward- 1y of the following side and rearwardly of the machine, and operating means including a motor on said frame and disposed above the plane of the cuttings passage formed by said frame members.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 20th day of December, A. D. 1924.

FREDERICK W. VODOZ. 

